Excelsior Co., Rhode Island/Lou Colavecchio

irvingwarner
on 22 Mar 12 (20:02)

I recently purchased an 8X5 Kelsey letterpress, restored completely by Lou Colavecchio of Excelsior Co., in Rhode Island. It was, and is, an excellent machine—I’m a beginner, but have already printed a few simple things with it. He shipped it 3,000 miles to me, and packed it up in a super-sturdy crate, and it made it unscathed. I’m completely satisfied with my Kelsey letter press and the dealings I had with Excelsior Co.
Irving Warner, Port Hadlock, Washington

Girl with a kluge
on 23 Mar 12 (09:14)

Why didn’t you buy the new pilot he is/was selling?

Armchair Detective
on 23 Mar 12 (19:38)

Updated 23 Mar 12 (19:39)

Good point. The initial poster has been a member of Briar Press for just 11 weeks, with no other posts or comments. This post came from outta nowhere. Something’s fishy. Either he was bribed by or is actually the person named in title of this post, having changed his User Name. When will this nonsense end? Geez.

irvingwarner
on 24 Mar 12 (14:55)

The reason I have not been a member of Briar Press very long, is because I’ve just begun printing and don’t know much about it, unlike many keen observers on this thread. I’m an author, and you can check me out on Amazon.com and/or my web site (www.irvingwarner.com) and to my knowledge have not just come out of nowhere. Also, I don’t take bribes — or at least thus far in my 71 years. My advice to Armchair Detective is to put a lid on derisive comments concerning people about which he has no knowledge. (Irving Warner, Port Hadlock, Washington)

Geoffrey
on 24 Mar 12 (15:51)

Updated 24 Mar 12 (15:52)

Greetings Irving, and congratulations on the purchase of your press. Here’s hoping that you get a lot of enjoyment out of it. If I can be of any help, please feel free to contact me either on Briarpress or by email (you can initially email me through Briarpress). You only have a few years on me, and I’ve been in, or connected with, the printing business most all of my life.

bigboypress
on 26 Mar 12 (18:19)

Thanks for joining the list Irving which I am new to as well. Great news about your success and best wishes for it to continue. Neil Salkind

danielheff
on 26 Mar 12 (20:33)

Great! Can we see some pictures?

irvingwarner
on 27 Mar 12 (00:11)

Thanks for the welcome, all! I’m learning—slow—but I’m learning. I do have pictures, but have a hard time attaching them herein. I’ll learn that too!
Irving Warner

Armchair Detective
on 27 Mar 12 (06:27)

Updated 27 Mar 12 (06:28)

Mr. Warner:

My apologies to you for my previous post. My comments were in response to the person and company named in the title of this thread. There are several posts and scores of comments on Briar Press about that business, with lots of controversy that seemingly won’t come to an end.

You’ve got a great website and it’s apparent that you have lots of experience, accomplishments, supporters and success and I wish you all the best in your pursuit of letterpress printing.

— David Smith, aka Armchair Detective.

irvingwarner
on 20 Apr 12 (21:55)

Mr. Smith:
No problem—very gracious of you. Knowing what I do of the overall backstory of the situation, I well understand events. But, in the end, I can only write/say what I experienced business-wise with Excelsior, and it was favorable. And…the letterpress continues to work like a charm—a beautiful job of restoration. But my function as a printer—well, I’m learning, if slowly!
(Irving Warner)